What does 習 mean in Japanese?
習 means to learn something by practising it, especially a skill you are taught. Its kun’yomi 習う (narau, to learn/take lessons in) is an everyday verb, and it forms core study words like 練習 (renshuu, practice) and 学習 (gakushuu, learning).
The on’yomi シュウ drives the compounds: 練習 (practice), 学習 (learning), 予習 (yoshuu, preparing before class), 復習 (fukushuu, reviewing after class), and 習慣 (shuukan, habit/custom). The top of the kanji is 羽 (feathers) — the old image of a young bird practising to fly.
Reading
On’yomi: シュウ (shuu)
Kun’yomi: なら-う (nara-u)
Basic Information
| Kanji | 習 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | learn, practice, custom |
| Stroke Count | 11 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
How to Understand This Kanji
習う (narau) specifically means learning a skill through lessons or from a teacher: ピアノを習う (take piano lessons), 先生に習う (learn from a teacher). This makes it narrower than 学ぶ (manabu), which is broader ‘to study/learn’. On the on’yomi side, 練習 (renshuu) is practice through repetition; 学習 (gakushuu) is learning/study as a process; and the pair 予習 (yoshuu, studying before a lesson) and 復習 (fukushuu, reviewing after) are essential classroom words. 習慣 (shuukan) means a habit or custom — something learned so well it becomes second nature (生活習慣, lifestyle habits).
Common Words
- 習う（ならう / narau） — to learn (from a teacher), to take lessons in
- 練習（れんしゅう / renshuu） — practice
- 学習（がくしゅう / gakushuu） — learning, study
- 予習（よしゅう / yoshuu） — preparation (studying before class)
- 復習（ふくしゅう / fukushuu） — review (studying after class)
- 習慣（しゅうかん / shuukan） — habit, custom
Example Sentences
-
私は先生に書道を習っています。
わたしはせんせいにしょどうをならっています。 / Watashi wa sensei ni shodou o naratte imasu.
I am learning calligraphy from a teacher.
-
毎日漢字を練習しています。
まいにちかんじをれんしゅうしています。 / Mainichi kanji o renshuu shite imasu.
I practice kanji every day.
-
授業の前に予習をすると、よく分かります。
じゅぎょうのまえによしゅうをすると、よくわかります。 / Jugyou no mae ni yoshuu o suru to, yoku wakarimasu.
If you prepare before class, you understand well.
When Learners Usually See This Kanji
Distinguish 習う (narau) from 学ぶ (manabu) and 教える (oshieru). 習う is to learn a skill by being taught or by practising it (习い事, lessons/accomplishments). 学ぶ is broader, more academic ‘to study/learn’. 教える is the flip side — ‘to teach’. A neat pair to memorise: 先生が教える、学生が習う (the teacher teaches, the student learns).
Lock in the classroom trio: 予習 (yoshuu, study before class) and 復習 (fukushuu, review after class) sandwich the lesson, and 練習 (renshuu) is the practice that makes it stick. All three use 習.
習慣 (shuukan) means a habit or custom — a behaviour ‘learned’ until automatic. Keep it apart from the similar-sounding 週間 (shuukan, ‘a week’s time’, as in 一週間); same reading, different kanji and meaning.
Summary
習 means to learn by practising, with the everyday verb 習う (narau) and key words 練習 (practice), 学習 (learning), 予習/復習, and 習慣 (habit). On’yomi シュウ, kun’yomi なら-う.